Niagara (band)
Encyclopedia
Niagara is the name of a French
synthpop
duo that achieved popularity both in France
and Canada
from 1986 to 1989. The band, whose was known under the name L'Ombre jaune from 1982 to 1984, was formed in Rennes
, France
, in 1984, by vocalist Muriel Laporte (later known as Muriel Moreno) and keyboardist Daniel Chenevez. They were frequently compared to the UK duo Eurythmics
.
, leading to the group forming a following in North America. Also in 1989, their singles "J'ai vu" and "Pendant que les champs brûlent" became minor hits in central Europe.
Niagara released two more albums: Religion in 1990 (which introduced a harder-edged sound to their music) and La Vérité
in 1992 before the band (and the real-life couple of Laporte/Moreno-Chenevez) separated. Both musicians went on to solo careers. In 2002, a compilation entitled Flammes was released (also released as double CD and DVD), containing all the band's hits. It hit #1 for three weeks on the French Compilations Chart.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
duo that achieved popularity both in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
from 1986 to 1989. The band, whose was known under the name L'Ombre jaune from 1982 to 1984, was formed in Rennes
Rennes
Rennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, in 1984, by vocalist Muriel Laporte (later known as Muriel Moreno) and keyboardist Daniel Chenevez. They were frequently compared to the UK duo Eurythmics
Eurythmics
Eurythmics were a British pop rock duo, formed in 1980, currently disbanded, but known to reunite from time to time. Consisting of members Annie Lennox and David A...
.
Biography
They became famous in France when they issued in 1985 their first single, "Tchiki boum", which was followed in the summer 1986 by their second single, "L'amour à la plage". 200,000 copies of each single were sold in France, becoming both silver disc. Driven by exotic-looking Laporte's charisma and singing ability, the duo released their first album in 1986, Encore un dernier baiser which included their first two hits and a new single, "Je dois m'en aller". Their second and most popular release was the album Quel enfer in 1989 ; the video for the lightweight "Soleil d'hiver" received frequent airplay in CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, leading to the group forming a following in North America. Also in 1989, their singles "J'ai vu" and "Pendant que les champs brûlent" became minor hits in central Europe.
Niagara released two more albums: Religion in 1990 (which introduced a harder-edged sound to their music) and La Vérité
La Vérité
La Vérité was the last album by Niagara. Niagara was one of the few French bands who had success and critical acclaim outside of France despite not singing in English, because of this they embarked on an international tour in 1991 which included many sold out concerts...
in 1992 before the band (and the real-life couple of Laporte/Moreno-Chenevez) separated. Both musicians went on to solo careers. In 2002, a compilation entitled Flammes was released (also released as double CD and DVD), containing all the band's hits. It hit #1 for three weeks on the French Compilations Chart.
Albums
- 1986 : Encore un dernier baiser
- 1988 : Quel enfer
- 1990 : Religion
- 1992 : La VéritéLa VéritéLa Vérité was the last album by Niagara. Niagara was one of the few French bands who had success and critical acclaim outside of France despite not singing in English, because of this they embarked on an international tour in 1991 which included many sold out concerts...
- 2002 : FlammesFlammesFlammes is a 2002 compilation recorded by French pop act Niagara. It contains all the band's hit singles from its debuts and was released under three formats : the classic edition with a sole CD, a limited edition with a double CD whose second one contains the extended versions, and a long box...
(compilation)
Singles
- 1985 : "Tchiki boum"
- 1986 : "L'amour à la plage"
- 1986 : "Je dois m'en aller"
- 1987 : "Quand la ville dort"
- 1988 : "Assez !"
- 1988 : "Soleil d'hiver"
- 1989 : "Flammes de l'enfer"
- 1989 : "Baby Louis"
- 1990 : "J'ai vu"
- 1990 : "Pendant que les champs brûlent"
- 1991 : "Psychotrope"
- 1991 : "La vie est peut-être belle"
- 1992 : "La fin des étoiles"
- 1993 : "Un million d'années"
- 1993 : "Le minotaure"
External links
- Official website - French language but primarily graphical
- Muriel Moreno official website